Applejack was stacking up bushels of apples next to the barn as Twilight sat on a fence nearby.

“Thanks for letting me come over,” said Twilight. “I’ve had really nasty dreams the past two nights and I really needed to talk to a friend about it.”

“And a friend is certainly what you got in me! Go on and tell me what happened.”

“Well, the first night I dreamed that I was flying with Rainbow Dash, only of course I wasn’t flying, she was flying and I was just holding on, and she kept making fun of me. Then she flew higher and I fell off, and everypony has an inborn fear of falling, so of course I was scared until I woke up in bed.”

“That ain’t like Rainbow Dash at all!”

“I know, right? So the next night I dreamed I was with Rarity at the spa, which in fact did happen, only she was so controlling and she wouldn’t let me get out. Eventually she tried to drown me in mud.”

Applejack set down the last bushel, wiped her brow, and leaned against the fence.

“Well now, that does sound a teensy bit like Rarity. Not the drowning-in-mud part, but the controlling part.”

“This was way beyond anything she does in reality. She was hurting me.”

“Don’t fret no more, Twilight. Nopony here’s gonna hurt you. Let’s head in the house and see what Granny Smith’s whipping up for supper.”

As they entered they saw that the elderly mare had indeed spread out a fine display of hay salad, fried grass, and roasted oats. On the window sill an apple pie was cooling. Big Macintosh was already seated at the table. Apple Bloom came trotting up.

“Did you wash your hooves, Apple Bloom?” asked Applejack.

“I sure did, AJ! On account of I know if I didn’t you’re just going to send me back up to do it right.”

“You ought to do it because you want to eat with clean hooves, but so long as it’s done I won’t bellyache.”

“Since they’re done, lemme have some of that fried grass!”

“Hold on there, sugarcube. Twilight’s our guest, so let her serve herself first.”

Twilight magically maneuvered a spoon into the fried grass, scooping out a portion for herself before floating the bowl over to Apple Bloom.

“Your family sure gets along well, Applejack.”

“Darn tootin! Ain’t nopony gets along like family.”

“I think when I get home I’ll write my parents in Canterlot. I haven’t spoken with them in a while.”

“Ain’t much of a surprise there.”

“How do you mean?”

Applejack was spooning out some roasted oats for herself. As she finished she pointed the spoon at Twilight.

“You know, maybe the reason you’re having such bad dreams is because of guilt.”

“Guilt over what?”

“Being a bad daughter. Running off and leaving your folks alone, not writing, only visiting town to go to parties and galas.”

“I didn’t run off, Princess Celestia assigned me to Ponyvile.”

“Oh, well, if dear Princess Celestia said so, I guess that makes it all right. Maybe if it meant leaving my kin I might think a bit longer than half a second before saying yes.”

Apple Bloom decided to chime in. “You got that right, big sis! It’d take more than something some highfalutin alley-corn said to tear this family apart. But I guess they don’t love each other in Canterlot the way we do in Ponyville. Ain’t that right, Big Mac?”

The stallion looked up from his bowl. “Yes, quite, I agree wholeheartedly.”

Cutlery clinked as everypony stopped eating and started at Big Macintosh.

“What? I’m trying out something new so I ain’t tied to a catchphrase.”

“Well, in any case,” said Granny Smith, “Point being, that the thing of it is, when all is said and done, at the end of the day. . . what were we talkin’ ‘bout, Applejack?”

“About Twilight’s neglected parents. Shoot, it’s no wonder she’s an only child. Nice ponies probably didn’t want to get their hearts stomped on twice.”

Twilight was starting to cry. “Applejack, everypony, why are you all saying such hurtful things?”

“Now sugar, I told you ‘tweren’t nopony here going to hurt you. You’re hurting yourself on account of your being a poor excuse for a daughter.”

Twilight was shocked at the failure of bonhomie, and tried to calm the situation with manners. “I think I’ve had enough to eat. If you’ll all excuse me, I think I’ll head for home.”

“Oh, sure, go on,” said Applejack. “Go on home to your little dragon and your pile of books. Maybe you’ll find a family in there. Course, I never heard of anypony finding a family in books, but if you don’t, then the good part is that there won’t have to be another generation of selfish, uncaring fillies like you.”

Apple bloom nodded her head. Granny Smith muttered, “Got that right” under her breath. Big Macintosh was staring at Twilight, clearly also in agreement.

“Stop it, please!” Tears were gushing down Twilight’s face.

“That’s it, go ahead and cry. Whenever one of us is crying, there’s somepony there to wipe away our tears and comfort us. Won’t nopony come to dry yours.”

The other Apple family members chuckled. “Good one, AJ!” said Apple Bloom.

The bawling unicorn threw herself on the wooden floor. “Shut up, all of you, just shut up! Shut up and go away!”

“Twilight, why don’t you go away?” said Applejack.

“Yeah, Twilight,” said Apple Bloom.

“Yes, Twilight,” said Big Macintosh.

“’t’s true, Twilight,” said Granny Smith.

“Twilight. Twilight!” said Spike.

She came to once more, to see her dragon friend wearing a nightcap. His claws were on her shoulders, and he had shaken her awake.”

“Spike, wha--?”

“You were crying out in your sleep, screaming ‘Shut up and go away!’ If I were partying like I sometimes do this late, I might understand, but I was in bed too.”

“’This late?’ What time is it?”

“Just after twelve midnight.”

She had gone to bed at ten the night before.

“Only two hours sleep? That’s no good.”

“You’re not kidding, sister. I’m hitting the hay.”

“You called me sister.”

“Not really, just giving the expression some punch. Why?”

“Spike. . . do you think I’m neglecting my family?”

Spike had started back to his bed, but turned back. “What’s this all of a sudden?”

“It was just. . . in the dream I had they kept saying I was a bad daughter.”

“Whoa, that was some doozy of a dream then, huh? But no, you write your parents just as often as you write Princess Celestia, maybe more.”

“That’s right, I do! It’s like I forgot in that dream. Spike, this is real, isn’t it? You’re not just a dream?”

“I’m sure I’m real! Dream dragons don’t get this—,” he yawned, “tired.”

“All right, back to bed with you, after you give me a hug.” Twilight leaped upon him and squeezed tightly.

“Hey! Don’t be so clingy! It’s too late at night for this kind of mush.”

Spike wormed his way out of Twilight’s grip and headed back to his bed. Within ten minutes a loud snore came from his room.

Twilight walked softly over the floor and peered in on him. He looked so peaceful. “Could I really take the chance of waking him up again?” she thought. It was a convenient excuse for her not to go back to bed. She bottled up the thought that she was scared to death of it.